Recording device for railways



H. HEYN AND F. ZIMMERMANN.

RECORDING DEVICE FOR RAlLWAYS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.14, I921.

4 SHEETSSHEET l.

Patented Sept. 19, 1922..

H. HEYN AND FrZlMMERMANN.

RECORDING DEVICE FOR RAILWAYSv APPLICATION FILED FEB.14. xszl.

1,429,878. Patentedsept- 19, 1922.v

'4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H. HEYN AND F. ZIMMERMANN. RECORDING DEVICE FOR RAILWAYS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB 1 I 4. 192 1,429,878. PatentedSept. 19, 1922.

l 4 EEEE TS EEEEE 3.

I x pw.) *A' K llama. m Mam H -W W/W/W Patented Sept. 19, 1922.

UNITED i STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HEINRICH I-IEYN, OF DAT'IELN, AND FRIEDRICH ZIMMERMANN, OF ESSEN,GERMANY, ASSIGNORS T FRIED. KRUPP AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, OFESSEN-ON-THE-RUHR,

GERMANY.

RECORDING DEVICE FOR RAILWAYS.

Application fi1ed February 14, 1921. Serial 1%, 444,864.

- specification.

r Fig. 4, looking from the left,

. Fig. 8 is a cross section on line 88 in This invention relates to adevice suitable for railways and serving to record and indicate theaxles running across a track. The

present device differs from similar devices of the kind already knownprimarily by the feature that it is adapted not only to record thenumber of axlesand their running direction, but also the amount of theaxle pressure and the precise time at which the said axles have runacross a track equipped with the recording device, so that the recordsobtained will, as said, not only comprise the number and runningdirection of the axles but also the amount of the pressure exertedbyeach axle and further the time at which the particular section of thetrack entering into consideration was crossed.

The invention will 'be further described with reference to theaccompanying drawings which show, by way of example, one embodiment ofthe subject matter of the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the portion of the device arranged on oneof the rails of arailwaytrack,

Fig. 2 is a pertinent top view on an enlarged scale, Fig. 3 is view,partly in sec-' tion, of a portion of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4: is a cross section on line 44in Fig. 3, looking from the right,Fig. 5 is a cross section on line 5-5 in Fig. 3, seen from above,

Fig. 6 is a cross section on line 66 in Fig. 4:, seen from above,

Fig. 7 is a cross section on line 77 in Fig. 3, seen from above,

Fig. 9 is a cross section on line 9- 9 in Fig. 2,

Fig. 10 is across section on Fig. 9, seen from above,

Fig. 11 is a diagram showing the system of electrical connections inconjunction with a recording mechanism, and

Fig. 12 shows one of the records made by the recording mechanism.

The'portion of the device which is arranged on one of the rails of arailway track will be described first.

On the web a of the rail A belonging to a track running to a railwaystation there are fixed two fish-plates B and B (Figs. 1,

2, .3, 4 and 5). The fish-plate B is provided in its middle portion'witha flange 22 '(Fig. 4) projecting beyond the inner flange a of the railand immediately adjoining which there is arranged a cylindrical pot bsuitably grounded. WVithin said pot b there is displaceably arrangedhollow cylinder .C closed by a cover 0 and subjectto the action of avery powerful spring D tending to push. it upwards. The displaceabilityof the hollow cylinder C is confined by twopins 6 arranged at the pot band projecting each into a vertical groove 0 (Fig. 4:) formed in thehollow cylinder C. On the cover 0 are cast two upwardly directed eyes 0within which there is lodged to rotate a bolt E. To this bolt there arelinked two one-armed levers F and F provided at their free ends withsuitable longitudinal slots f and f (Fig. 5)

and adapted to rock in the manner 118 closed in Figs. 1 and 2 aboutpivots b and i b fixed to the fish-plate B The surfaces 7 and f (Fig. 2)of said levers and'which extend in the direction ofthe rails are,

. from the pivots b and b upwardly inclined and thus constitute contactfaces for the flange g of a wheel G running across the rail A (Fig. 4C).To the hollow cylinder C there is fixed an uprightrack bar 0 shiftablewithin a guide 5 (Figs. 3 and 6) arranged on the pot Zr", the teeth ofthis rack bar being disposed outside of the pot b and adapted to gearwith a pinion H (Figs. 3, 4; and 6). rotate, by meansof a hub h rigidlyconnectedto it, about a pivot 6 fixed to the pct (2 The hub 7L1consistsofelectrically non-conducting material and has a flange b towhich is fixeda downwardly extending lever it. The lower portion 72, ofthis lever its is somewhat enlarged toward one side and possesses a[-shaped portion. Within this [-shaped portion h there is fixed a pin 7rintroduced from below (Figs. 4, 6 and 7), the axis of which is locatedin parallel to the upright web of the part 72. On this pin there isarranged a prismatic element K, having the width of the part 72/1 (seeFig. 7) and guided by the inside face 01'? said upright web. The element K is acted upon by a spring 70 (Fig. 7) wound about the upper.slightly stepped portion of the pin adapted to force the element Kagainst the upper flange of the [-shaped portion 7L4. \Vithin said element K. there is a hole 1: the axis oi? which intersects the axis of thepin 72, at right angles. lVithin the hole 71) there is shittablydisposed a pin M forming a contact member and acted upon by a spring; mtending to constantly force the pin M out oi the hole 71: Thedisplaceability oi the pin M is limited by a cap Z0 (Fig); l) covering);the hole 7x1 and. illlOllQfll which the pin M projerts'witl'i itsstepped extremity. li ith said extremity projecting beyond the cap 7&3the pin M bears up against a plate 7) having the shape of an annularsector and bolted up against the external wall of the pot 7) in tl emanner illustrated in Figs. 3 and 6. Said plate 7) consists o'lelectrically non-conducting material and is provided on its flat surface7) facing; the pin H, with an arcuate edge 7) comprising; an inclinedsurface 7), a shoulder 7) leadmg to an intermediate step 7) and Lshoulder 7) leading down again to the surface 7) (see Figs. 3, l andlVithin the plate 7% there are arranged two contact studs L and 7), ofwhich the one. 6 is disposed. in the step 7). and the other, 7). in thesurface 7). The shoulders 7) and 7) are disposed at an incline to theradii drawn from the centre to the contact studs 7) and 7). All thepartsarranged on the outer wallo'f the pot 7) are suitably covered andprotected by a box 5 into which a supply cable 7) consisting of fourlines is introduced, the system of connection of which will be morefully explained hereinafter. A

On the web a of the rail A there are bolted at some distance remote fromthe fislrplateg B and, B two additional fishplates N and N 1, 9 and 10).The fish-plate N disposed on the inside of the rail A is provided withan upright pot a supported by a flange a on the inside flange a? of therail A. lVithin this pot. n there is shittably arranged a hollowcylinder P covered by a cap 77 and acted upon by a spring 22 which.consequently tends to force it upward. In this case, too. thedisplaceability of the hollow cylinder P is suitably confined by a pinw. projecting into a vertical slot 37* formed in the hollow cylinder P.The cap p is fitted with two bevelled surfaces i and 1) (Figs. 1 and 2)running in the direction on the rails and forming the contact faces forthe flange of a wheel G running across the rail A (Fig. On the undersideoi? the cap 7 there is fixed a plate p of a non-conducting material andwithin which there are shiftably arranged two contact pins Q, and Q Eachof these contact pins Q and Q respectively. is acted upon by a spring 9in the manner disclosed in Flfl. 9. Opposite to the contact pins Q, and1 there are disposed two contact members N and N flxed to the bottom ofthe pot n by the aid of a non-conducting intermediate member M. Thecontact members N and N are connected to electric lines '1" formingtogether. outside of the pot 72. a cable a (Fig. 9.).

lVithin. a chamber, say. for example. the station masters room. which isat a distance remote from the part of the device hitherto explained.there is arranged a recording drum B (Fig. 11.) adapted to be jerkwiserotated by intervention of an electro-magnetically operated feedmechanism 1' The magnet winding 9* of said feed. mechanism is connectedby lines 9 and to a source of continuous current It. Vithin the line 0are disposed the hereinbedore described contact member M arranged at thelever 72- (see Figs. 3, 4, and 6) as also a point Oil break formed bythe already mentioned contact members N N which point is adapted to bebridged by aid of a contact element comprising; the mentioned contactpins Q and Q 9). Against the exterior of the recording drum R. fittedwith a sheet of paper there bears up a recording pen S fixed to a screwnut 8 adapted to be displaced along a spindle T. This spindle T isdriven by a clockwork T Tn addition. there are arranged to rock on thesaid screw nut 8 two supplementary recording pens S and S which,normally do not make contact with the recording drum R but may be causedto do so by means'ot electromagnets. The magnet windings r and r ofthese latter electromagnets are connected in the manner disclosed inFig. 11. on the one hand, by means of lines 7 and 1 to points along liner located between the magnet winding r and the point of break N N to bebridged by the contact pins Q and 0}. while. on the other hand, they areconnected by means of lines r and r with the contact studs 7;) and 7)(see also F 3) with which the contact member M arrangrx'l on the leverha is adapted to make contact. (For the sake of convenience, the contactstuds 7) and b are shown. as disposed to the right and left of the lever72/ in Fig. 11, whereas of the device, let it now be assumed in theconstruction described by way of example and shown in Fig. 4, they areboth located to the left of the lever h In considering the manner ofoperation that the clockwork T (Fig. ll) has been started at midnightand is revolving the spindle T with a uniform angular velocity. Hence,the screw nut s will come to displace itself at a uniform rate of speedin the direction indicated by the arrow :0 (Fig. 11) and the recordingpen S will, starting at midnight, mark a straight line r (Fig. 12) onthe sheet covering the drum R, said line following the direction of theaxis of rotation of said drum, the marking of this line continuing frommidnight righton to 2 a. m. At 2 a. m. there approaches a train runningin the direction denoted by the arrow 2 (Fig. 1). As soon as the firwheel (Fig. 9) of its engine comes to bear with its wheel flange g downupon the contact faces p and p of the hollow cylinder P, this latter isforced down counter to the action of its spring p and the resilient pinsQ, and Q make contact with the studs N and N. By the contact thusestablished, the circuit R r l i Q Q N r 1 r R will be closed and themagnet winding r excited. As a result, the appropriate electromagnet newsets the feed mechanism r in operation and the recording drum It beginsto revolve. The rotation of this drum continues only until the wheel Grhas departed from the contact face 39 for as soon as this has beeneffected, the hollow cylinder P will, acting under the impulse of itsspring 22 at once return into its upper end position as shown and inwhich the circuit above indicated is broken. While the drum R isrotating the recording pen S marks a short line forming part of astraight line 7 running in the peripheral direction of the drum R, i. e.at right angles to the straight line r After a very short space of time,the said wheel G attains the contact face 7 of the lever F and begins torock this latter about the pivot (3 Giving to'the rocking motionexecuted by the lever F, in which also the lever F is caused toparticipate, the hollow cylinder G connected up to the levers F F 'bythe link E, c is forced downwards counter to the ac tion of the springD. In, the movement executed by the hollow cylinder C, the lever 12,rigidly connected to the pinion. H is caused to participate byintervention of the rack gear 0 H in such a manner that it will carryout a rocking motion in the direction denoted by the arrow 2 (Fig. 8).lathe course of this rocking motion of the lever b the pin M, which isforced by its spring m against the surface Z1 9 of the plate 7),primarily travels up the inclined surface 5 then, after gliding downacross the shoulder 6 it is now forced against the internow again liftedo'l' f mediate step 6 and finally, after having slid across the shoulder5 again attains the plane surface 6 of the plate Z). The arrangement isso devised that in the very instant when the wheel G is exactlypositioned above the hollow cylinder 0, the pin M will have sliddownacross the shoulder L On the wheel 3- continuing to run, its fl' nge gtravels across the contact face 7 of the lever l the hollow cylinder (3moving up ward again under the action of the spring D, so that accordiij y the lever 72, will now carry out a rocking motion counter to thatindicated by arrow In the course of this rocking motion, the pin Mprimarily strikes against the inclined face of the shoulder Z3 (Fig. 3)and is forced outward in a radial sense conjointly with its bearing bodylid, this latter, at the same time, displacing itself counter to theaction of the spring along the pin if. its the outwardly directed motionof the pin M i initiated, this latter glides across the contact stud Z)"and in so doing temporarily closes the circuit R 9* lVl I r r '1 r r Rll). U11 its continued eturn motion the pin ll glides along the shoulderZ2 and the external face of the ledge Z2 and finally, after the lever72, has again attained its initial position, the pin M, acting under theimpulse of its spring k returns into its initial position illustrated.By means of the last-mentioned circuit closing operation the two magnetwind" ings r and 9* will be excited simultaneously. Now, by theexcitation of the magnet winding a, the recording pen td ivill be forcedagainst the sheet on the drum ll, whereas by the excitation of themagnet winding r, the said drum will be rotated forward for a shortspace. Hence, the straight line 1' will be prolonged for a small extentowing to the pen S constantly bearii'ig up against the drum, while, atthe same time, the Hill S will mark a line r at a slight distance remotefrom the continuous line 7*" but in parallel thereto. The magnetwindings r and r ceasing to be excited, the pen 3 is im the drum ll, andthis latter stops rotating. Now as soon as, in the further course of themotion executed by the wheel G, its flange has c from the contact faceall the pa.ts reassume their initial position illustrated. In themeanwhile, the second \vheel of the engine has approached to sucn anextent, that its flange will commence to press down the hollow cylinderP. As a result, the operation above-explained will cor. e to he reiieated, and, since during the depression of the hollow cylinder P, thecircuit r* \T Q} Q; N r r r has been temporarily closed, a briefrotatory motion will be imparted the drum E and in consequ nce thestraight line 7 will come to be prolo ed for a short section beyond theline r3 The respective operations will come to suitably repeatthemselves when the second wheel of the engine travels across the leversl1 F The ma windings r and 1- will both be simul ously excited again fora brief space of time, and the pen S will inalre a fresh. line 2' whileat the same time the per 5 will prolong the straight line 1' for a(:OFTGSPOTUilinf); section. i

'lhe same operations will talie place as the third and fourth wheel ofthe engine travel across the two contact devices arranged on the rail A.both ca Q he straight line 9" alone will firstly be prolonged for shortsection, and then, while continuing line 1', there will at the same timeadccd in succession two new lines 7" and W", respectively, runnin: n ldirecti i of lius and r. Pence. alter. the engine has traw elled acrothe two contact devices, the lQCSlftllllQ v3e of the drum will containthe four lines to 1* and the luiolreu line 9' r" which e. ads exactly tothe end of line 1". slow to e .czr ct the en 'ine there first followeight i miloaded a four axles loaded with the maximum weight admiss oleand which ravel with their wheels successively across the two con actdevices. The comparetively weal; sprin disposed within the pot a willnow be compressed h-y the unload axles to e same degree as by the loadedaxles, so 1: it the manner of operation of the osmg device disposedwithin the pot a will be exactly the same when an unloaded axle travelsacross it when is Li. a loaded axle. llence, ti o first unloz, runniiigacross the said circuit closing device likewise causes a shortprolongation of the line 9". A difference in the ma nor of operationwill, however, occur as soon as the first unloaded axle travels thecircuit closing dc ice of the pot 7) For on a wheel of an unloaded axlerunning: across the con tact face 7 ot the levers h F the powerful.spring D will b compressed to a substantially less extent than whenloaded axles travel across it. is a result, the cylinder C will, whilethe unloaded wheel is at the same time slightly lifted o l from the rail.:l, he moved. downwards tor a correspondingly smaller measure, and the(lCi'lQCtiOll executed by the lever .will become -orrespondin 'lysmaller. N ow the arrangement is such that in this case the lever 7&3will carry out a deflection of such magnitude that its pin .ul aftertravelling up the inclined face 72 and sliding down across the shouldercome to a. stop on the intermediate step 7/ In the course of the upwardmovement of the cylinder C and the return movement of the lever 72?.both, of which are initiated as the unloaded wheel travels across thecontact face 7, the lever 703 will bear up against the shoulder 6 andwill be shifted radially outpress the 7) will wards together with itsbearing block K by said shoulder o and this counter to the ac tion ofthe spring On this displacement, the pin M comes to glide across thecontact stud Z and will, as a result, for a short time cause the circuitR r M II 1 r "r 'r r r to be closed. As a result of the circuit havingthus been closed, the magnet windings r and 1' will be simultaneouslyexcited and, in consequence, the recording pen will in this case beforced against the drum it and this latter will itself be fed forwardfor a short space, The pen will therefore mark a shart line r below line9" and in parallel thereto, while at the same time the pen S, which ispermanently in the operative position, vill prolong; said straight line7" for a corresponding section. As the following; seventeen unloadedaxles travel across the cylinders it and. C, in exactly the same manner,the line 9 will each time be firstly prolonged alone for a short space,and then prolonged again, while simultaneously an additional line 1" to1" is added in. the direction of line 1". The eighteen unloaded axlesare succeeded, as said, by four loaded axles of the train travelling;across the cylinders l? and C. These loaded axles now compring l) tosuch an extent, that the pin ill will glide down across the shoulder tso that a diagram will be produced on the recording: face of the drum itwhich will resemble that produced by the fouraxled engine of the train.Hence, on the four loaded axles travelling across the two devices, therewill be caused a correspondino" prolongation of the line 2'' and, inaddition, above the said line 9 four lines 0' to T Owing to the factthat in the diagram r to r hitherto produced, the begin ning; of line 1"is disposed for a slight measure in front of the commencement of thefirst line, 1, whereas the end of said line 9'' coincioes with the endof the last line, 7 it will he seen that the train first travelledacross the cylinder P and then across the cylinder C, that is to say, ithas run into the station in the direction indicated by arrow 1 (Fig:1.).

Let it now he assumed that the train lies two hours in the stationduring which time the empty cars are loaded and the loaded onesdischarged, and that then after the ennine has first been reversed inthe station, the same train new departs, however in the directionopposite to arrow 3 in Fig. 1. During the time from 2 a. m. to 4 a. m.the screw hat 3 has shifted itself in the direction of the axis ofrotation of the drum R without any rotatory mot-ion having however beenimparted to this latter. As a consequence, the pen S will inscribe thestraight line r running in the direction of the axis of rotation of thedrum R. At f a. m. the four-axled engine followed by four unloaded andeighteen loaded axles will. therefore run first across the c linder Cand then across the cylinder P. ence, the axles of the engine and of theloaded cars will again cause lines r to 1" to be marked and which will.be disposed above the continuous straight at the same time the pen S isforced against On the other hand, the end of v the continuous line 7*proyects for a certain the paper.

measure beyond the end of the last line, 9", for the reason that afterthe last wheel has run across the cylinder C, it still has to tra versethe cylinder P so that the drum R will still be fed forward for a shortspace.

By reason of the fact that in this case againthe commencement of thefirst line, r coincides with that of the continuous straight line 7',Whereas the end of thelast line, 7 TGII IEIlIIS behind the end of saidstraight line,

it wili be clearly ascertained from the dia gram that the train hasrolled out of the station in a direction counter to that d acted byarrow y.

There is moreover thepossibility of so perfecting the describedembodiment that the diagram produced will indicate even more refineddifferences in weight than are presented by loaded and unloaded cars. Tothis end, it would be necessary to suitably increase the number of themobile recording pens (S and S and of the appropriate driving devices(contact studs 6 'b and electromagnets r 7). By thesemeans the diagramwould then be able to indicate even the precise weight of each axle.

It will thus be seen that the device forming the subject matter of thepresent invention provides the possibility of watching all the movementsof the train as they take place on the section of the track leading tothe station, and this both as regards time, direc tion, number of axlesand axle pressure and that it thus offers a safeguard against anyunauthorised shunting of empty or loaded cars.

Claims.

1. A recording device for railways comprising electric contact devicespositioned adjacent the track rails and adapted to be actuated by theaxle pressures of the cars passing over the track, a recording deviceembodying a movable body and recording members displaceable by a clockmechanism with respect to said body, and electrical circuits includingsaid contact devices and said re- .thecars passing over cordingmeans'whereby there will be re" corded upon said body the number,running direction, axle pressure and time of the axles trav lling acrosssaid track.

2. A recording device for railways comprising two electric contactdevices positioned udjacent'the track rails and adapted to be actuatedby diil'erent axlepressures of the track, a recording device embod ingintermittently rotatable drumand recording members displaceable by aclock mechanism 1 gitudinally oi said drum, and electrical circuitsincluding said contact devices and said recording means WiiGlZbfJ therewill be recorded upon said drum the number, running direction, axlepressure and time of the axles travelling across said track.

3. A recording device for railways comprising two eiectric contactdevices disposed adjacent the track rail and adapted to be actuated bydifferent axle pressures of the cars passing over the track, a recordingde vice embodying); an intermittently rotatable drum carrying recordingsheet and recording members cooperating therewith, means connecting oneof said contact devices with said drum for intermittently rotating same,

means connecting the other of said contact devices to said recordingmembers and to said drum whereby saiddrum will be .ro tated, and saidrecording members caused to function simultaneously.

at. A recording device for railways com prising two independentlyoperatable contact devices positioned. adjacent the track rail andadapted to be actuated by different axlepressures of the ears passingover the track, a recording device embodying a rotatable drum, anelectric feed gear for intermittently rotating said drum, threerecording members displaceable axially o't said drum by a clockmechanism, one of said recording members remaining constantly in contactwith said recording drum, an elec* tric circuit including one of saidcontact devices and electric teed gear, and electric means connectingthe other of said contacts with a pair of said recording members andwith said electric teed gear, whereby the closing of said last mentionedcontact will etliect a rotation of said drum and a record by saidrecording members of lines serving to indicate the time, the number, andthe pressure of axles passing over said track.

5. A recording device for railways comprising two independent electriccontact devices positioned adjacent the track rail and adapted to beactuated by different axle pressures of cars passing over the track, arecording device embodying a rotatable drum, electric means forintermittently rotating said drum, three recording members displaoeableaxially of said drum, a clock work for displacing said recordingmembers.

lOO

'one of said recording members being disthe other tivo recording membersto contact said drum and electric circuits closed by the contactoperatable by a greater axle pressure for ene ining one or the other clsaid (iltfCii'O-lllflgIlGilS.

6. A recording device for railways comprising two independentlyoperatable electric contact devices positioned idijiiij r" traolr railand ted to le actuated diil'erent axle he cars pa over the track, arecording ice ember a rotatable drum, electric may tic nieini-i 01intermittently rotating said clam, recording members displaceableaxially of said drum, electro-magnets for causing tivo oil? saidrecording members to engage said drum, a circuit conm t tine one saidcontact devices with said. drum and rotating means, a pair oil con ac soperatable by the other or said contact d and connected in series withsaid electro-magnets, said first mentioned circuit being connected inseries with said last mentioned circuit.

7. An arrangement of the class described for recording the number,running direction, axle pressure and time of les travelling across thetrack oi? a railway comprising a pair of independently operatablecontact devices displaceable by the aide pressu es oi": the cars passingover the track, an electrically operated recording device, one of saidcontact devices embodying two circuit closing elements, a third circuitclosing element resiliently displaceable in an axial and radialdirection, means operatable by a movable part or said contact device forcausing the dispiacement of said last mentioned circuit closing element,whereby different axial pressures will cause said last mentioned circuitclosing element to engage one or the other of said first mentionedcircuit closing elements.

8. A ecording device for railways comprising tWoindependently operatableconta t devices positioned ad acent a track all u pted to be actuated bydifferent axle pressures of the cars passing over the track, one of saidcontact devices comprising a stationary and movable part, a pair ofcircuit closing elements, a third circuit closing element resilientlydisplaceable in an axial and radial direction, a switch element providedwith stepped surfaces for guiding said displaccable circuit closingelement, means operatable by the movable part of said contact device forrocking said displaceable circuit closing element, a recording device,means for electrically operating said record ing device and a circuitincluding said last mentioned means and said circuit closing elements.

The foregoing specification signed at Essen, Germany, this 11th day ofDecember, 1920.

HEINRICH HEYN. FRIEDRICH ZIMMERMANN. In presence of HANS GOTTSMANN,JOHANN Dnonnns.

